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Party Out of Bounds: Summer Fridays 4.3

10Jun

Week three and it’s the return of rhythm to Summer Fridays mixes. It’s also the return of ace artwork contributor Greg Morris who offers up this image of a super fun party time. Just what is happening here? There is a lot of pointing going on. They sure had fun on the Upper West Side back in the non-specific ’80s, eh? That’s what I’m imagining here at least.

As to the music here in, it might get this bunch of stiffs out on the dancefloor. (Maybe.) I think this one turned out really well, with one bit of beat-matching that actually doesn’t suck. Well I don’t think so. Lotta good stuff here, new and old. Hope it livens up any party you might attend.

This mix in particular relies on it’s meticulously compiled track-order, so really please don’t put this on shuffle. More pointing might ensue. Liner notes after the jump.

1. Big Audio Dynamite – Just Play Music
I’m always looking for a kickoff song that sounds like one, and this one — which actually closes BAD’s third album Tighten Up Vol. ’88 — was an easy pick. The original line-up of the band are back together and will be touring this summer. They were great when I saw them a couple months ago here in NYC so don’t miss this chance to see Mick Jones, Don Letts and the rest of them kick out the jams and just play music.

2. Blood Orange – Sutphin Boulevard
Dev Hynes is a musical chameleon and restless sort. You may remember his shortlived noise band Test Icicles, or the two album of highly melodic — if a little whiny — folk pop he released as Lightspeed Champion. Here’s his latest thing and I think it suits him the best. It’s very ’80s, like something that got cut from The Last Dragon soundtrack. Love the muted guitar here.

3. Metronomy – The Bay
Third single from Metronomy’s great new album The English Rivera and probably the most typically Metronomy-esque track on the record. It’s got that big disco bassline, but gone all squidgy. There’s also a slow motion feel to the song, I dig it.

4. Shit Robot – Losing My Patience
Minimal 8-bit type dance music on the DFA label, Shit Robot opened the LCD Soundsystem show I saw back in March where he wore a robot mask with glowing eyes the whole time. I would personally think that would mess with your vision. I digress. This track feature’s Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor.

5. Vacation – Jeane
Super new Brooklyn band that once featured Brad Oberhofer for a short period of time. This is a free download from their bandcamp page and is definitely one of my Summer Singles 2011. Musically it’s kind of like Madonna, right? Is that what it reminds me of? Not sure why this hasn’t taken off more. Get into it, man!

6. Postpeople – Girlfriend
Let’s face it, human evolution has reached cessation. What is next for carbon-based life forms of higher intelligence. The answer is Postpeople. And they want to be your girlfriend.

7. The Honeydrips – (Lack of) Love Will Tear Us Apart
This track is a few years old and The Honeydrips have broken up since (even if it was mainly just one dude in Sweden) but it’s a nice bit of Funky Drummer-sampling indiepop dancemusic. Cute!

8. Miracle Fortress – Everything Works
The first Miracle Fortress album, Five Roses, was nominated for the Polaris prize and full of Brian Wilson influenced guitar pop. Graham Van Pelt, who’s also in Think About Life, switches tracks for album #2 which is more Eno-influenced atmospheric dance music. He’s still got the melodic chops.

9. John Foxx & the Maths – Evergreen
John Foxx was the original vocalist for Ultravox back when they were synth-heavy postpunk. He quit the band and made some influential early synthpop on his own while Ultravox turned into some horrid histrionic new romantic bullshit. Foxx is still at it. This may sound like it was made in 1981, but it’s from Foxx’s new album which you can read more about here.

10. Heaven 17 – Are Everything
This is legit old-school synthpop. Heaven 17 was the band Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh formed after quitting The Human League (right before Dare!). This was a single, and some of you may know the original by The Buzzcocks. This is an edit I did just to keep things snappy.

11. WhoMadeWho – Nothing Has Changed
LCD Soundsystem are no more, Hot Chip aren’t quite as reliable as they once were, Cut/Copy have become a parody… who to take the indie-dance throne? May I nominate Danish weirdos WhoMadeWho? “Nothing Has Changed” has a pretty badass groove and this trio kill live.

12. Tom Vek – We Do Nothing
Then again, maybe Tom Vek will claim the crown? His second album, delivered a speedy six years after his first, picks up right where he left off. So many cool little production touches in this song, and love that laid back vocal delivery (which some dislike but I dig).

13. Black Devil Disco Club – Fuzzy Dream
Bernard Fevre released an album as Black Devil Disco Club in 1978 which was only heard by vinyl junkies… until Aphex Twin rereleased it in 2004. Fevre reactivated his pseudonym a couple years ago and actually played the Seaport last year. There’s a new album that features a host of guest vocalists, including Horrors frontman Faris Badwan, John Spencer and Nancy Sinatra. I distinctly remember him doing this “dibba dabba dibbeh” infused song last summer.

15. Friendly Fires – Running Away
It took me about seven listens to begin to like the new Friendly Firest album which seems to draw inspiration mainly from Phil Collins, Wham!, and the Miami Vice soundtrack (which might be reduntant). But it clicked eventually with this song, probably the most like the first album… but now with those big gated drums.

16. Jah Wobble – How Much Are They?
This single is from 1981, right after quitting Public Image Limited and remains one a classic postpunk dance track, not too far from what was going on with Fun Boy Three or The Slits. Of course Wobble’s bass skills knew few peers and the afro-dub within still sounds amazing played really loud in a dark sweaty club.

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